Element for amusement articles, corresponding system and method

ABSTRACT

An element ( 10 ) of amusement articles includes:
         a flat body with two opposite faces ( 10   a,    10   b ), a hub region ( 12 ), and a contour region ( 14 ) around the hub region ( 12 ),   a plurality of coupling elements arranged facing one another along the contour region ( 14 ) in an alternating sequence of first coupling elements ( 18 ) and second coupling elements ( 16, 28 ), wherein the first coupling elements are in the form of swivel-coupling recesses ( 18 ) and the second coupling elements are chosen from between:   a) toothed coupling sectors ( 16 ); and   b) swivel-engagement heads ( 28 ) complementary to said swivel-coupling recesses ( 18 ), and   complementary axial-engagement formations ( 20   a,    20   b ) provided on one ( 10   a ) and the other ( 10   b ) of said opposite faces.       

     The element ( 10 ) may be used as pendant or necklace, as component of a modular construction toy, possibly with different possibilities of connection, such as (e.g., radial and axial) coupling and swivel connection, as wheel (e.g., for providing models of wheeled vehicles), and/or for creating toys, such as statuettes or “characters” with added parts, which may be articulated. The element ( 10 ) may be used for creating, for example, surprises to be put in chocolate eggs and the like.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present description relates to amusement articles, such as forexample toys and the like.

Various embodiments can find application in amusement articles that areto be inserted in shell-type or capsule-type containers, used forinserting so-called “surprises” in foodstuff products, such as chocolateeggs and the like. Various embodiments can refer to the association ofsaid amusement articles to confectionery products, without priorintroduction into shell-type or capsule-type containers, but simply viainsertion in packages made of flexible film, such as bags made ofplastic material. Various embodiments may envisage the use of suchamusement articles by themselves, hence in a way independent of thepossible contexts of application to which reference has previously beenmade purely by way of example.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Amusement articles, for example in the form of toys, such as smallvehicles or characters, constitute a sector of application that isextremely vast and diversified, both from the aesthetic standpoint andfrom the technical standpoint.

For instance, in numerous variant embodiments shell-type or capsule-typecontainers are known that are able to receive inside them an amusementarticle such as a toy, an accessory such as a key-ring, a necklace, alucky charm, etc. having the function of surprise gift.

Documents such as EP-A-0 631 932, EP-A-0 631 933, EP-A-0 631 934,WO-A-2005/044677, WO-A-2005/110880 and WO-A-2007/074355 tackle technicalproblems of various nature linked to production of such a container,insertion of the “surprise” inside it, and again closing of thecontainer. Containers of this sort are illustrated in EP-A-1 110 459 andEP-A-1 308 392.

The above containers may be used, for example, for inserting “surprises”inside hollow foodstuff products such as chocolate eggs with dimensionssimilar to the dimensions of a normal chicken egg, and the container hasdimensions smaller than those of the product in which it is to beinserted: for example, a container of the type considered may present inthe form of a cylindrical barrel with dome-shaped end parts (which are,for example, hemispherical) with an axial dimension (length) in theregion of 5 cm and a diametral dimension in the region of 3.5 cm.

The document No. 2010/109370 A1 describes a solution that tackles thetechnical problem linked to the fact that the dimensions of theamusement article designed to function as “surprise” may be limited bythe dimensions of the container so that the dimensions of the articleare limited, even in the case of articles comprising distinct parts, toa few centimetres. The solution according to the document No.2010/109370 A1 enables, instead, use as “surprise” of articles of aquite considerable size such as, for example, a model of aeroplane thatis able to fly.

Likewise known are numerous variant embodiments of amusement articlesthat can be assembled, for example according to a general criterion ofmodularity.

For instance, documents such as IT-U-167 969 or IT-U-210 696 apply theabove criterion of modularity using the aforesaid shell-type orcapsule-type containers as bricks of a set of construction toys.

More in general, as already indicated previously, various embodimentsmay refer to amusement articles used in themselves and not necessarilycontained in plastic capsules or barrels.

In this connection, there are known, in numerous embodiments, amusementarticles that can be assembled starting from a number of pieces,possibly according to a general criterion of modularity: reference maybe made in this regard to documents such as, for example, IT-A-1 233001, GB 2 171 022 A, GB 2 408 219 A, GB 2 490 551 A, GB 200601445 A1,U.S. Pat. No. 3,583,091 A, U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,219 A, U.S. Pat. No.6,572,429 B2, U.S. Pat. No. 7,553,209 B1, US 2003/0129919 A1, US2005/113177 A1, US 2006/0276100 A1, US 2008/0090485 A1, US 2011/0028063A1, EP 0 586 341 B1, EP 0 856 341 B1, EP 1 068 886 A2, EP 1 463 571 B1,EP 1 755 757 B1, EP 2 125 131 B1, WO 03/059481 A, WO 2005/110571 A1, WO2008/093028 A1, WO 2012/153086 A1.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY

In the context outlined above, an important feature may be representedby the so-called “playability”, i.e., by the number and nature of thepossibilities of application of the article.

Starting from the prior art outlined previously, the object of variousembodiments is to provide amusement articles such as to present a highdegree of playability, both in absolute terms, when said articles arenot associated to shell-type or capsule-type containers and in relationto their possible insertion in shell-type or capsule-type containersused for the so-called “surprise” gifts in foodstuff products such aschocolate eggs and the like.

Various embodiments enable the above object to be achieved thanks to anamusement article having the characteristics recalled in the ensuingclaims.

Various embodiments may refer also to a corresponding system and to acorresponding method of use.

The claims form an integral part of the technical teaching providedherein in relation to the invention.

Various embodiments enable one or more of the following forms of“playability” to be achieved:

-   -   use as pendant or necklace;    -   use as component of a modular set of construction toys, possibly        with different possibilities of connection, such as coupling        (for example, radial or axial coupling) and articulated        connection, and/or with the possibility of coupling together        different components;    -   use as a wheel (for instance, for providing models of wheeled        vehicles);    -   creation of toys (e.g., character statuettes) with added parts,        which may be articulated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Various embodiments will now be described, purely by way of non-limitingexample, with reference to annexed figures, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are a perspective view and a top plan view, respectively,of an element according to embodiments;

FIGS. 3 to 6 illustrate various modes of possible use of embodiments;

FIGS. 7 and 8 exemplify a possible application of embodiments;

FIGS. 9 to 11 exemplify variant embodiments;

FIG. 12 exemplifies a variant embodiment;

FIGS. 13 and 14 exemplify various modes of possible use of embodimentsaccording to FIG. 12; and

FIGS. 15 to 19 exemplify the possibility of joint use of elementsaccording to different variants.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the ensuing description, various specific details are illustratedaimed at providing an in-depth understanding of various examples ofembodiments. The embodiments may be provided without one or more of thespecific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. Inother cases, known structures, materials or operations not are shown ordescribed in detail so that various aspects of the embodiments will notbe obscured.

Reference to “an embodiment” or “one embodiment” in the framework of thepresent description is meant to indicate that a particularconfiguration, structure, or characteristic described in relation to theembodiment is comprised in at least one embodiment. Hence, phrases suchas “in an embodiment” or “in one embodiment” that may be present invarious points of this description do not necessarily refer to one andthe same embodiment.

Furthermore, particular conformations, structures, or characteristics,may be combined in any adequate way in one or more embodiments. Forinstance, one or more characteristics exemplified in what follows withreference, respectively, to each of the embodiments exemplified in FIGS.1 to 8, in FIGS. 9 to 11, and/or again in FIGS. 12 to 14 may betransposed in any one of the other embodiments, for example to enableuse in a modular system as exemplified in FIGS. 15 to 19.

The references used herein are provided only for convenience of thereader and hence do not define the extent of protection or the scope ofthe embodiments.

The embodiments exemplified herein may refer—purely by way of example—toamusement articles that preferably, but not necessarily, are to beinserted in shell-like or capsule-like containers of the type recalledin the introductory part of the description.

In the figures, the reference number 10 designates as a whole an elementthat can be used for providing amusement articles, for example accordingto the modalities illustrated more fully in what follows.

In various embodiments, the element 10 may comprise a body made ofplastic material, for example, moulded. By way of example, without thisbeing understood as in any way limiting the scope of the embodiments,the element 10 may present in the form of a flat body, e.g., adisk-shaped body, with a diameter comprised between approximately onecentimetre and a few centimetres.

In various embodiments, the element 10 may present in the form of a flatbody with two opposite faces 10 a, 10 b.

In various embodiments, in the body of the element 10 there may likewisebe distinguished a hub region 12 and a contour region 14 centred aroundthe hub region 12.

In various embodiments, the hub region 12 may be full or, as illustratedhere, provided with an axial cavity 120.

In various embodiments, the hub region 12 and the contour region 14 maybe connected together by a plurality of spokes 13, four in number in theexamples represented in FIGS. 1 to 8 and 10, three or five in number inthe examples represented in FIGS. 9 and 11, or six in number in theexamples represented in FIGS. 12 to 14.

In various embodiments, along the contour region 14 first and secondcoupling elements, arranged in alternating sequence, may face oneanother.

In the embodiments exemplified in FIGS. 1 to 8 along the periphery ofthe contour region 14 set facing one another, arranged in alternatingsequence, there may be:

-   -   first coupling elements comprising a plurality of        swivel-coupling recesses or sockets 18; and    -   second coupling elements comprising a plurality of toothed        coupling sectors 16.

The alternating sequence exemplified in FIGS. 1 to 8 envisages that arecess 18 (first coupling element) will be followed by a toothed sector16 (second coupling element), in turn followed by a recess 18, and thenby a toothed sector 16, and so forth.

In various embodiments, the alternating sequence could be different fromthe one exemplified here, for instance with a toothed sector 16 (secondcoupling element) followed by two recesses 18 (first coupling elements),in turn followed by a toothed sector 16, then by one or two recesses 18,and so forth.

In the examples of embodiment presented in FIGS. 1 to 8, four recesses18 (first coupling elements) separated by four toothed sectors 16(second coupling elements) may be provided.

In the above examples, the recesses 18 (first coupling elements) are setat the same angular distance apart (at 90° from one another) along thecontour of the element 10. Consequently, as may be appreciated morefully for example in the front view of FIG. 3, the element 10 may, invarious embodiments, present an overall shape at least roughly similar,for example, to a cross.

Once again in the same examples, the toothed coupling sectors 16 (secondcoupling elements) can hence be spaced at the same distances apart andare the same as one another.

Once again in the same examples, the toothed coupling sectors 16 mayeach comprise three cavities 160 and four teeth 161 as indicatedexplicitly in FIG. 1.

The above constructional choices are not on the other hand to beunderstood as imperative.

In various embodiments, the aforesaid cavities/teeth may present acomplementary conformation that may be identified at least roughly as adove-tailed conformation.

As will emerge more clearly in what follows (for example, with referenceto FIG. 12 onwards), in various embodiments, instead of the toothedsectors 16 (or at least of part of them) there may be present, as secondcoupling elements, swivel-engagement heads (e.g., spherical heads) 28having a shape and/or dimensions such as to enable insertion thereofinto the recesses or sockets 18 and articulation therewith.

As has been on the other hand already mentioned previously, specificconstructional aspects illustrated with reference to any of theembodiments exemplified herein may be transposed into the otherembodiments exemplified herein.

In various embodiments (e.g., FIGS. 1 to 8, FIGS. 9 to 11, FIG. 12onwards) on the opposite faces 10 a, 10 b of the element 10 there may beprovided, for example in the hub region 12, complementaryaxial-engagement formations such as a pin or tenon 20 a provided in anaxial position with respect to the element 10 (which may have, forexample, an as a whole circular shape) and a corresponding cavity 20 b.

The relative position of the complementary formations 20 a and 20 b maybe appreciated better in the view of FIG. 5.

In various embodiments, it is possible to envisage that the condition ofcoupling between the formations 20 a and 20 b is such as to enable freerelative rotation of two elements 10 axially coupled together asexemplified in FIG. 5.

In various embodiments, it is possible to envisage that the condition ofcoupling between the formations 20 a and 20 b is (for example, as aresult of the presence of ribbings or of other retention elementsobtained on the body of the element 10) such as to prevent relativerotation of two elements 10 axially coupled together as exemplified inFIG. 5.

In various embodiments (this applies, for example, to the embodimentsillustrated respectively in FIGS. 1 to 8, in FIGS. 9 to 11, and/or inFIG. 12 onwards), the characteristics exemplified in the drawings mayvary, for example, in relation to one or more of the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   the connection of the hub region 12 and of the contour region        14, which can be obtained without any solution of continuity,        hence without providing the spokes 13 visible in the drawings,        or else providing a number of spokes 13 different from what is        here illustrated;    -   the extension and/or distribution of the first and second        coupling elements, i.e., of the sockets 18, of the heads 28, or        of the toothed sectors 16, which may present (for example, for        the toothed sectors 16) angular extensions different from the        ones here provided by way of example and/or (for example, for        the recesses 18 and/or the heads 28) a positioning where they        are not set at the same angular distances apart;    -   the number of the first and second coupling elements, which may        be higher or lower than what is here shown by way of example        (e.g., four—FIGS. 1 to 8—three or five—FIGS. 9 to 11—or else        six—FIGS. 12 to 14);    -   the fact that the toothed sectors 16 present all the same number        or different numbers of cavities 160 and teeth 161;    -   the fact that the cavities and teeth 160, 161 define conditions        of relative coupling different from conditions of coupling such        as ones of a dove-tailed type;    -   the position, number, and distribution of the complementary        formations 20 a, 20 b and/or the possibility of these allowing        or not allowing relative rotation of a number of elements 10        axially coupled together as illustrated in FIG. 5; and/or    -   the configuration of the articulated recesses 18 and of the        heads 28 as articulated recesses of a spherical type: in various        embodiments the articulated configuration may be a hinge-like        configuration with capacity of orientation with respect to a        single axis.

FIGS. 3 to 7 exemplify various modes of use (i.e., various levels of“playability”) of an element 10 as exemplified herein in FIGS. 1 to 6.

For instance, FIG. 3 shows how the element 10 can be used as pendant ornecklace.

For this purpose, the element 10 can be coupled to a lace, necklace, orbracelet B (schematically represented with a dashed line in FIG. 3) thatcarries (in FIG. 3 both of these possibilities, which can be useddistinctly from one another, are represented):

-   -   a body B1 with a toothed part B11 that can be engaged to one of        the toothed sectors 16, for example inserting it in one of the        cavities 160; and    -   a body B2 with an articulation head B21 that can be coupled to        one of the recesses 18.

It will likewise be appreciated that the modality of use exemplifiedwith reference to FIG. 3 is suited to being implemented (according to avariant not explicitly presented for simplicity of illustration) with abody such as the body B2 having, for example, instead of thearticulation head B21, a recess or socket that can be coupled in asimilar way with one of the spherical heads 28 of one embodiment, asexemplified in FIGS. 12 to 14.

FIG. 4 exemplifies, instead, the possibility of using an element 10according to various embodiments as element (“brick”) of a modular setof construction toys, exploiting the possibility of coupling together anumber of elements 10 by bringing into a coupling condition respectivetoothed sectors 16, i.e., causing the teeth 161 of one of the toothedsectors 16 of one element 10 to couple (for example according to acoupling configuration that can at least be roughly likened to acoupling of the dove-tailed type) in the cavities 160 of one of thetoothed sectors 16 of another element 10.

FIG. 4 highlights how said possibility can be extended to two or moreelements 10, showing two elements 10 already coupled together accordingto the modalities just described and a third element 10 brought up closeso as to be set in a condition of coupling with one of the two elements10 already coupled together.

Various embodiments can use, for the purposes of implementation of thevarious levels of playability exemplified herein, the fact that thematerial constituting the element 10, for example a plastic material,may present characteristics of resilience, for example characteristicsof resilience of an elastic type, such as to enable a snap-actioninterlocking.

In various embodiments it is possible to obtain between the teeth 161 ofone element 10 and the cavities 160 of a further element 10, atolerance, of for example less than 1 μm, such as to enable asnap-action fit between the two elements.

FIG. 5 exemplifies the possibility of coupling a number of elements 10exploiting the axial-engagement formations 20 a, 20 b.

In various embodiments, the coupling in question can take place bybringing the elements 10 to mate together.

In various embodiments, the coupling in question can take place bybringing the elements 10 to be at least marginally set at a distancefrom one another, as schematically illustrated by way of example in FIG.5.

Also FIG. 5 (as likewise FIG. 4) highlights the possibility of extendingsaid coupling mode to two or more elements 10, showing a third element10 that is brought up close so as to be in conditions of axial couplingwith two elements 10 already coupled together.

As has already been said, the modalities of axial coupling exemplifiedin FIG. 5 may envisage both the possibility of free relative rotation ofthe elements 10 coupled together and, optionally, the possibility ofthis movement of rotation being prevented owing to the profile of thecomplementary formations 20 a, 20 b and/or to the presence, on theelements 10 axially coupled together, of contrast elements such as toprevent the aforesaid movement of rotation.

The “radial” coupling mode exemplified in FIG. 4 may be exploitedtogether with the “axial” coupling mode exemplified in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 exemplifies yet a further level of playability that can beimplemented using an accessory B3, which has a toothed part B31 that canbe engaged to one of the toothed sectors 16, for example by inserting itinto one of the cavities 160, and has a pin-like part P3 that can beinserted in the hub region 12 (exploiting for this purpose the axialcavity 120, if present) of another element 10.

In this way, the second element 10 can be used as a wheel, asschematically exemplified in the left-hand part of FIG. 6.

The modality of use exemplified in FIG. 6, reproduced for example withtwo accessories B3 mounted in positions diametrally opposite on a firstelement 10, enable assembly of a carriage with two side wheels(constituted by two elements 10 of the same type as the one representedin the left-hand part of FIG. 6) that can be used for example forcreating models of wheeled vehicles.

Added to the above is the possibility of covering on the outside thecontour of the element 10 or of the elements 10 that function as wheelswith an annular element (not visible in the figures) that is such as toreproduce a sort of tyre mounted on such a wheel.

Also the level of playability exemplified in FIG. 6 can be used in acombined way with the other levels of playability exemplifiedpreviously.

FIGS. 7 and 8 exemplify yet a further level of playability (which canalso be used in combination with the other levels of playabilityexemplified and/or with the other embodiments exemplified herein) inwhich the element 10 (or possibly a number of elements 10 coupledtogether, for example coupled axially as illustrated in FIG. 5) canconstitute the body part of a toy such as, for example, a zoomorphic toy(a prehistoric monster, in the example illustrated) in combination witha number of accessory parts B4, B5, B6, that can be coupled to therecesses 18, the toothed sectors 16, and/or the heads 28 of the element10.

In the example presented in the figures, the accessories B4 eachcomprise a pair of legs of the animal, which are provided with teeth B41that can be coupled on opposite sides of an element 10 by engaging theteeth B41 in cavities 160 of two adjacent sectors 16 of the element 10.

In the example presented in the figures, the accessories B5 and B6 areconstituted by two further pieces (for example, one designed torepresent the head part of the monster and the other the tail part ofthe monster itself) each provided with a swivel-engagement head B51, B61that can be inserted in an swivel-coupling configuration into twosockets 18 of the element 10.

FIG. 8 illustrates the zoomorphic character in the assembled conditionwith the head part B5 and the tail part B6 represented, respectively, ina raised condition and in a lowered condition.

Added to the above is the possibility of exploiting the presence of thespherical heads B51 and B61 for modifying the orientation, for examplelowering the head and raising the tail or else, in general, modifyingthe orientation of these parts with respect to the body of the animal.

It will be appreciated that, in the case where in the element 10 one ormore articulated heads such as the spherical heads 28 visible forinstance in FIG. 12 onwards are present, the modalities of swivelcoupling with one or both of the parts B5 and B6 may be reversed byproviding in the above part or parts a socket such as the sockets 18,which can constitute an articulation with such a head.

FIGS. 9 to 11 exemplify the fact that the characteristics and functionsof use described previously can be referred also to embodiments in whichthe element 10 has a shape different from that of a circular disk (aspresented in FIGS. 1 to 8), for example a polygon such as a triangle(see FIG. 9), a quadrangle (e.g., a square, see FIG. 10), or a polygonwith even more sides (e.g., a pentagon, see FIG. 10, a hexagon and soon).

Added to the above is the possibility of envisaging for the toothedsectors 16 either a rectilinear profile or (as exemplified, for example,in FIG. 9) a slightly arched profile—for example, with its convexityfacing outwards—so as to facilitate coupling with homologous sectors.

As regards the rest, as has already been repeated a number of times,specific aspects presented with reference to the embodiments exemplifiedin FIGS. 1 to 8 or in FIGS. 12 to 14 may be transposed into theembodiments exemplified in FIGS. 9 to 11, and vice versa, so thatspecific aspects illustrated herein with reference to the embodimentsexemplified in FIGS. 9 to 11 (by way of non-limiting example, the numberof the spokes 13, of the first and second coupling elements 16 and 18,the number of the cavities 160/teeth 161 in the toothed sectors 16,etc.) can be transposed into the other embodiments exemplified herein.

FIGS. 12 to 14 exemplify the possibility, already introduced anddiscussed previously, of envisaging, in various embodiments, thepresence, instead of the toothed sectors 16 (or at least of part ofthem), of swivel-engagement heads (e.g., spherical heads) 28 having ashape and/or dimensions such as to enable insertion and articulationthereof with the sockets 18.

The reference that has just been made to the possible presence ofswivel-engagement heads 28 instead—at least of part—of the toothedsectors 16 regards the fact that—in embodiments not explicitly presentedherein so as not to burden unnecessarily the present description—alongthe contour part 14 of the element 10 there is present an alternatingsequence of:

-   -   first coupling elements in the form of swivel-coupling recesses        18; and    -   second coupling elements comprising both toothed coupling        sectors such as the sectors 16 and swivel-engagement heads such        as the heads 28.

FIG. 12 exemplifies, according to a point of observation approximatelycorresponding to the point of observation of FIG. 1, the possibility ofusing, as second coupling elements, instead of the toothed sectors 16,swivel-engagement heads 28 separated by recesses 18 having acomplementary conformation.

In this way, the elements 10 can afford, in addition to the modalitiesof modular coupling between elements 10 that have already beenillustrated previously, further possibilities of connection, such as forexample:

-   -   axial connection with orthogonal planes of lie, via one of the        heads 28 of one element 10 inserted in the cavity 120 of the hub        12 of another element 10 (FIG. 13), achieving a modality of        articulated coupling substantially similar to the one between a        head 28 and a cavity 18; and    -   perimetral connection at an angle (or dihedron), with planes of        lie orthogonal to main coplanar axes, via one of the heads 28 of        one element 10 inserted in one of the recesses 18 of another        element 10 (FIG. 14); it will be appreciated on the other hand        that a similar coupling mode can be achieved also, for example,        with two elements 10 as exemplified in FIGS. 1 to 8 (or 9 to 11)        exploiting for the purposes of connection the toothed sectors        16.

FIGS. 12 to 14 likewise exemplify the fact that the choice of envisagingsix heads 28, separated by six recesses 18 (but both the number and thesequence of alternation could be different) is suited to bestowing onthe element 10 a general shape for example like a star or snow flake,which can be used, for instance, as necklace, as previously proposedwith reference to FIG. 3.

Also in this case, specific aspects illustrated before with reference tothe embodiments exemplified in FIGS. 1 to 8, or else to the embodimentsexemplified in FIGS. 9 to 11, can be transposed into the embodimentsexemplified in FIGS. 12 to 14, and vice versa, so that, for example,swivel-engagement heads like the heads 28 visible in FIGS. 12 to 14 canbe replaced by all (or even only some) of the toothed sectors 16 ofFIGS. 1 to 11. This can apply whether the element 10 presents thecircular shape of FIGS. 1 to 8 or 12 to 14 or whether it presents apolygonal shape, as exemplified in FIGS. 9 to 11.

This possible identity or “interchangeability” of characteristicsenables joint use, in the framework of an open modular system, ofelements 10 according to different embodiments.

For instance, it will be appreciated that the modalities of coupling ofa number of elements 10 exemplified in FIGS. 4 to 6 (and also in FIGS. 7and 8, when for example the body of the zoomorphic toy illustratedtherein is obtained with a number of elements 10) are feasible to alarge extent even when one or more of the elements 10 illustratedtherein correspond to the embodiments exemplified in FIGS. 9 to 11and/or in FIGS. 12 to 14.

FIGS. 15 to 19 exemplify once again the above further potential of use(of course without exhausting the practically infinite range ofpossibilities afforded by such a system) with reference to possiblecoupling modes:

-   -   axial with parallel planes of lie, with respective complementary        formations 20 a and 20 b (FIG. 15);    -   axial with orthogonal planes of lie, with one of the heads 28 of        one element 10 inserted into the cavity 120 of the hub 12 of        another element 10 (FIG. 16);    -   perimetral at an angle (or dihedral), with orthogonal planes of        lie and main axes coplanar, with one of the heads 28 of one        element 10 inserted in one of the recesses 18 of another element        10 (FIG. 17);    -   perimetral with orthogonal planes of lie and main axes        orthogonal, once again with one of the heads 28 of one element        10 inserted in one of the recesses 18 of another element 10        (FIG. 18);    -   perimetral with coplanar planes of lie, once again with one of        the heads 28 of one element 10 inserted in one of the recesses        18 of one element 10 according to FIGS. 1 to 8 and of one        element 10 according to FIGS. 12 to 14 (FIG. 19).

It will be appreciated that the various examples provided herein can beat least to a large extent implemented for instance by providing anelement 10 according to FIGS. 9 to 11 instead of an element 10 accordingto FIGS. 1 to 8 and/or instead of an element 10 according to FIGS. 12 to14.

Added to this is the possibility of creating a construction-toy systemcomprising a plurality of elements 10 that can be coupled togetheraccording to a general modular scheme and in which:

-   -   the coupled elements 10 are the same as one another (see for        example FIG. 4); and    -   the coupled elements 10 differ from one another (see for example        FIGS. 15 to 19) for instance as regards at least one between:    -   i) the different shape (circular: FIGS. 1 to 8; polygonal: FIGS.        9 to 11; star-like: FIGS. 12 to 14) of the flat body, and    -   ii) the presence, as second coupling elements, of toothed        coupling sectors 16 and/or of swivel-engagement heads 28.

The term “element” has consequently been used in the presentdescription:

-   -   both in relation to the first and second engagement (or        coupling) elements such as the recesses 18, the toothed sectors        16, and the heads 28, in so far as they are elements or members        comprised in the part designated as a whole by 10;    -   and in relation to the above part 10, in so far as it can in        turn be used as component part, hence as element, of a modular        construction toy comprising a number of elements that are the        same as one another or different from one another.

Without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the details ofconstruction and the embodiments may vary, even significantly, withrespect to what has been illustrated herein purely by way ofnon-limiting example, without thereby departing from the extent ofprotection as defined by the annexed claims.

1. An element (10) of amusement articles, including: a flat body withtwo opposite faces (10 a, 10 b), a hub region (12) and a contour region(14) around the hub region (12), a plurality of coupling elementsarranged along the contour region (14) in alternating sequence of firstcoupling elements (18) and second coupling elements (16, 28), whereinthe first coupling elements are in the form of swivel coupling recesses(18), and the second coupling elements are selected out of: a) toothedcoupling sectors (16), b) swivel engagement heads (28) complementary tosaid swivel coupling recesses (18), complementary axial engagementformations (20 a, 20 b) provided on the one (10 a) and the other (10 b)of said opposite faces.
 2. The element of claim 1, including toothedcoupling sectors (16) having at least one characteristic out of: thetoothed coupling sectors (16) include a plurality of teeth (161); thetoothed coupling sectors (16) are provided with a toothing (160, 161),preferably a dovetail-like toothing, snap-engageable with an analogoustoothing.
 3. The element of claim 1, wherein the second couplingelements (16, 28) are equally spaced and/or identical to one another. 4.The element of claim 1, wherein the complementary axial engagementformations (20 a, 20 b) are located in the hub region (12).
 5. Theelement of claim 1, wherein the complementary axial engagementformations (20 a, 20 b) include a pin (20 a) and a cavity (20 b) forengagement by a pin (20 a).
 6. The element of claim 1, wherein thecomplementary axial engagement formations (20 a, 20 b) are coupleable infree relative rotation conditions.
 7. The element of claim 1, includingradial spokes (13) extending between the hub region (12) and the contourregion (14).
 8. The element of claim 1, in the form of a piece ofplastics material.
 9. The element of claim 1, wherein the element (10)is circular in shape, thus being useable as a wheel.
 10. The element ofclaim 1, wherein the element (10) is of a polygonal shape.
 11. Theelement of claim 10, including toothed coupling sectors (16) that arerectilinear or curvilinear with a convexity facing towards the exteriorof the element (10).
 12. A construction system including a plurality ofelements (10) according to claim 1, coupleable according to a modulararrangement.
 13. The modular construction system of claim 12, wherein:the elements (10) in said plurality of elements are identical; theelements (10) in said plurality of elements differ for at least one of:i) a different shape of said flat body; ii) the presence, as said secondcoupling elements, of toothed coupling sectors (16) and/or swivelengagement heads (28) complementary to said swivel coupling recesses(18), respectively.
 14. A method of using an element according to claim1, including at least one operation out of: coupling with the element(10) at least one analogous element (10) by coupling respective couplingelements out of said first coupling elements (18) and second couplingelements (16, 28), coupling with the element (10) at least one analogouselement by axial engagement of respective complementary engagementformations (20 a, 20 b), coupling with the element (10) at least oneauxiliary body (B1, B3, B4) having a toothed part (B11, B31, B41)coupleable with one of said toothed coupling sectors (16), coupling withthe element (10) at least one auxiliary body (B2, B5, B6) having anarticulation element (B21, B51, B61) coupleable with one of said swivelcoupling recesses (18) and said swivel coupling heads (28).